Time switch



July 22, 1941. L. A. PFLEGER TIME SWITCH Fi led Aug. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. dfo/vaeo 14% E652.

' ATTORNEY5.

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July 22, 1941; L PFLEGER 2,250,168

TIME SWITCH Fi led Aug. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. zio/vqzo 4. PF; E688.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1941 2,250,168 TIME SWITCH Leonard A. Pfleger, South Bend, Ind., assignor of one-half to Andrew Kekko, South Bend, Ind.

Application August 29, 1938, Serial No. 227,323

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in time switches, and particularly to time switches adapted to make or break an electrical circuit at a definite time for which the device may be set.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, novel and inexpensive device of this character.

A further object is to provide a device wherein a spring serves as a driving ineansfor clockwork mechanism and for switch operation, said clockwork serving to restrain switch operation by said spring until a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

A further object is to provide a switch housing mounting a driving spring and having a rotatable control shaft mounting clockwork which rotates therewith, rotation of said shaft energizing the spring to condition the parts for timed operation controlled by the clockwork.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a shiftable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts. and adjustable means associated with said stationary contacts and having two operating positions for controlling the operation of the device for selectively making or breaking a circuit.

A further object is to provide a spring actuated rotatable shaft for controlling a switch, and clockwork mounted on said shaft and including a pinion normally meshing with a stationary annular gear for restraining said shaft, said annular gear having an interruption therein accommodating a quick throw of said switch by said shaft upon disengagement of said pinion at said interruption.

Other objects will be-apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a view 01 the device in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a view of the device in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the parts in position for setting the device preparatory to tlmedoperation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view takenon line H of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmenary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 8-4 of Fig. 5..

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a contact assembly takenon line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a modifled embodiment of the device in circuit-breaking I to Fig. 9 and illustrating the circuit-making arrangement.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the modified embodiment, with parts shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the numeral l0 designates a cylindrical housing open at one end and having an end wall H at its opposite end, said housing preferably being formed of insulating material. Centrally of end wall II is provided an annular "collar l2 mounting a cap ii. A transverse bearing plate 4 is slidable in collar l2, and a coil spring I5 is interposed between plate I4 and cap ii to normally urge said plate to predetermined position toward the left in Fig. 3.. A rotatable shaft ifis Journaled adjacent one end in 'end wall H centrally of collar l2, said shaft being adapted for longitudinal sliding relative to wall H, and the end of shaft It bears against plate I. The opposite end of shaft l6 terminates substantially in the plane of the open end of housing ill-and carries clamping plates ll gripping frame It for suitable clockwork (not shown). Clockwork frame it is fixedly mounted in a cap It which projects from the open casing end with its open end fitting in the end of said casing with a slight clearance.

'The clockwork may be of any particular type desired; however, tor purposes of reducing the size of the device-to small compass-the conventional mechanism of a watch is preferred. This clockwork comprises the conventional arbor 2. for the hour or minute hand of the watch, depending upon the purpose and time range desired for the device, and a pinion 2| is mounted thereon. A second pinion 22 meshes with pinion II and is mounted on an arbor 23 Journaled in clamp H. A pinion 24 is mounted on arbor II enteriorly of frame I.

Within the housing ll adjacent the open end thereof is fixedly mounted a cup shaped member 25 which fixedly mounts a gear ring 25 at its open end. Gear ring 26 is provided with internal teeth, and is of reduced dimension at 21 to provide an interruption in the toothed inner periphery as best illustrated in Fig. "l. The spring l5 normally urges shaft i6 and associated parts thereof in position illustrated in Fig. 3 with pinion 24 in coplanar relation with gear ring 28. The shaft it passes through cup member 25 and has a combined bearing and longitudinally slidof conductor arm 52.

ing fit therein to support the forward end of the shaft in housing III.

A two-part block of insulation material is fixedly mounted transversely within housing I6, preferably abutting the rear wall of cup member 25. The parting plane 3| of block 36 extends transversely of the axis of housing II). The block is provided with a plurality of longitudinal passages therein, preferably formed by complementary grooves opening at the parting plane of each part of the block. Electrical conductors in the form of elongated metal strips are mounted in said passages. 33 projecting from one end of the block and its opposite end return bent at 34 adjacent and within the opposite end of the block. Another conductor 35 has a projecting end 36 parallel and complementary to end 33 of conductor 32, and terminates within the block at an intermediate point of the block. A third conductor 31 is aligned with but spaced from conductor 35 within the block, and terminates in a return bent end 36 complementary to end 34 of conductor 32. Suitable openings are provided in housing I6 for passage of projecting conductor ends 33 and 36. Spaced parallel longitudinal sockets 39 are formed in block 30, and these sockets receive the return bent conductor ends 34 and 38 which may have a limited movement therein as is conventional in .the art when a contact is forced into I said socket against the resilient action of said return bent portions. Openings 40 are provided in housing I in register with sockets 33. A conductor 4| is electrically connected with conductor 35 and projects from block 36, and a similar conductor 42 is electrically connected with .con-

ductor31.

Fixedly mounted on the rear of block centrally of housing I6 is a mounting 43 for a coil spring 44. Coil spring is fixed to the mounting at 45 and to shaft I6 at 46. A passage 41 extends centrally through the block 30 and spring mounting 43 and is of a size sufiicient for clearance of shaft I6 which extends therethrough.

The spring mounting 43 is spaced from housing end wall II, and this space constitutes a switch chamber. Fixedly mounted on shaft I6 in this chamber is a collar 56 of insulating material mounting a radially projecting arm 5| also of insulating material. An arm 52, parallel to arm 5|, and constituting an electrical conductor, is mounted on collar 59 for insulation from shaft I6. A second collar 53 fitting on collar 56 serves to hold conductor arm 52 in proper position. The outer end 54 of conductor arm 52 is preferably enlarged for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

A pair of closely spaced spring contact arms 55 are fixedly mounted in housing I0 in substantially coplanar relation to the rotational plane A secondpair of closely spaced spring contact arms 56 are fixedly mounted in the housing I0 in alignment with but slightly spaced from contacts 55. The contacts 55 and 56 are so arranged and positioned in reference to the shaft I6 and conductor arm 52, that when the shaft is freely rotated by spring 44, the enlarged end54 of arm 52 will pass between the contacts of each pair and will be stopped thereby in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, with head 54 forming an electrical connector between said contact pairs 55 and 56. Another spring conductor 51 is fixedly mounted in housing I0 in parallel relation to contact pair 56, and is provided with an off-set 56 normally spring pressed One conductor 32 has one end against the adjacent contact of pair 56. Conductor 51 is so positioned with reference to the plane of rotation of insulator arm 5|, that said insulator arm engages and laterally shifts the same to break the contact of off-set 56 wih contact pair 56.

Conductor 51 is preferably a metal strip, and extends to the end wall II of the housing to constitute a contact 59. A stationary contact member 66 is also mounted on the housing end wall in spaced relation to contact 56. A suitable electrical connector 6| extends between contact 59 and the contact pair 55. A switch 62 is pivoted to the housing end wall I I at 63, and is provided with an operating hand piece 64 extending exteriorly of the housing I0.

The contact pair 56 is connected by conductor 65 with lead 42 of conductor 31 in block 30. The switch 62 is connected by conductor 66 with lead 4| of conductor 35 in block 36. Switch 62 is adapted to be adjusted by hand piece 64 for selective engagement with one of contacts 59 and 66 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

In the normal or inoperative position of the device, i, e., the position wherein the spring 44 has rotated shaft I6 to the full extent permitted by the stationary contact members 55, 56, 51 acting in reference to rotating arms 5|, 52 on said shaft, the clockwork frame I6 and associated parts are so positioned that pinion 24 is opposite the interruption 21 of gear ring 26.

The device is interposed in the electrical circuit to be controlled thereby, by means of contact arms 33, 36 which fit into a conventional electric socket member (not shown), and with sockets 36 receiving a conventional connector member (not shown) as is well understood in the art. 1

When the device is to be conditioned for operation, cap I6 is pressed inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 4, against the action of spring I5, and thereupon rotated counter-clockwise to the necessary extent, followed by release of the cap for meshing of pinion 24 with gear ring 26. The cap preferably carries indicia 10 at its margin to designate the length of time for which the clockwork is set by rotation thereof; and the edge of the housing I6 is provided with a suitable indicator 1| with respect to which indicia 16 may be read; or the arrangement of indicia and indicator may be reversed from that shown. The rotation of the cap I9 causes equal rotation of spring 44 to tension the same, and also rotates arms 5|, 52 therewith into spaced relation to contacts 55, 56, 51. The contacts 55, 56 and 51 are sufllciently resilient to flex laterally incident to the longitudinal'sliding of shaft I6 by cap I9 as illustrated in Fig. 4 preparatory to shaft rotation. When the pinion 24 is meshed with gear ring 26, the tension of spring 44 acting on the shaft I6 serves to operate the clockwork (not shown) which in turn serves to restrain the rotation of shaft I6 as long as the said pinion and gear ring remain in mesh. Thus, the rotation of shaft I6 and movement of arms 5| and 52 is timed. The interruption 21 of gear 26 is so positioned that when pinion 24 reaches the same, the arms 5| and 52 are still substantially spaced from their cooperating spring contacts 55, 56, 51. Thus, after the pinion has traversed the portion of gear ring 26 over which it has been I brings them into full operative engagement with contacts 55, 58, 51. The contacts 55, 58, 51 are so constructed and arranged that they serve to stop the rotating arms 52 with head 54 of conductor arm 52. in engagement with and form- 5 ing an electrical connection between contact sets 55 and 56. The quick throw action of the switch renders the device accurate in operation, and avoids arcing of contacts and the like.

Before the device is set for operation by spring 44 as above described, the switch 82 is first conditioned by manipulation of hand piece 64 to cause the device to either make or break the circuit being controlled upon elapse of the time interval for which the device is to be set. When it is desired to cause the device to make a circuit after the desired time interval, the switch 82 is shifted into engagement with contact member 88. After the device operates as above described, a circuit is closed as follows: conductor 35, connectors 4| and 66, switch 82, connector 8| contacts 55, head 54 of conductor arm 52, contacts 56, connectors 65 and 42 to conductor 31. When switch 62 is set in engagement with contact 58, and the device has been set with pinion 24 meshing with gear 28, a circuit is closed as follows: conductor 85, connectors 4| and 65, switch 82, contacts 58 and 51, oil-set 58, contacts 56, connectors 65 and 42, toconductor 81. As will be obvious, the last named circuit is 30 broken. when the time interval for which the device has been set elapses with resultant positioning of insulator arm 5| in biasing engagement with contact 51 to space the ofl-set 58 thereof away from adjacent contact 56, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be understood that, while the device has been illustrated as breaking the circuit on only one side of the line, it may be made to break the circuit on both sides of the line by duplicating the rotating arms and stat'ionary contacts, and by replacing conductor 82 with separated conductors similar to conductors 35 and 31. Y

One of the important advantages of the device resides in the ability to change the setting thereof at will. As will be seen, this is accomplished by simply pressing the cap I! inwardly to disengage pinion 24 from gear ring 28, followed by rotation to eiIect thechangedsetting, or to permit return of the arms II, 52 to inoperative or 50 normal position engaging the, stationary contacts.

While the deviceis here illustrated as asso-' ciated with the hour arbor of' the clockwork, to afford operation of the devicewithin a range of from 10 minutes to 12 hours or more, it can be so associated with the clockwork to give other ranges of operation. Thus by mounting the pinion 2| upon the arbor for the minute hand of the clockwork, anoperatingrang'eof'from one minute to one hour or more maybe obtained; or by mounting pinion 2| upon the arbor for I the second hand of the clockwork, an operating range of from one second to one minute they be obtained.

The arrangement of the parts, together with as theuse of the clockwork of a conventional pocket 7 watch, renders the device small in size, and the simplicity of the construction renders the de-v vice inexpensive. 'Ilhe use of block 88 with its respective conductors renders the device-con- 70 venient for installation and removal from a circuit as desired. The arrangement of the circuits as described to eliminate connection with the movable parts of the switch device also sim- 'Plifles the construction by avoiding the u o 15 sliding contacts or flexible connectors and hence renders the device substantially free from service difficulties and failures.

A modified embodiment of the device, in reference to the switch parts, is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. In this embodiment the block 38 carrying conductors 32, 35 and 31 is arranged within housing ID in substantially the same arrangement as above described and carries spring mounting 43 for spring 44 acting upon shaft i8. Upon shaft I6 between spring mounting 43 arid rear housing wall H is mounted a collar 88 having a radially projecting arm 8| carrying an insulation element 82 which extends beyond the end of the arm. A shaft 83 extends parallel to shaft |6 and is preferably suitably supported at its ends by block 38 and end wall H. Shaft 83 has a suitable electrical connection with conductor 35 of block 38. Shaft 83 journals one end of an elongated switch element 84 positioned in the plane of rotation of insulator arm 82. Element 84 is provided with a cam face adjacent its free end and defined in part by a stop 88. A contact projection 81 is formed at the free end of element 84. A coil spring 88 encircling shaft 83 normally urges element 84 to the left toward arm 82 as viewed in Fig. 9, and a pin 88 projects from the rear of said element for engagement with block 38 to limit rotation of the element by said spring. A switch element 8| is pivoted to block 38 at 82, and has electrical-connection with conductor 31 of said block. Switch element 8| constitutes an elongated arm which projects through an elongated slot 83 in housing end wall II. A spring 84 carried by a block 38 normally urges switch element 8| at'the innermost end of slot 84 as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 11.

This embodiment of the device operates as follows: When the device is to open a circuit after a predetermined time interval, the parts are arranged as illustratcd in full lines in Fig. 9, with contact 81 of element 84 pressed against element 8| by the action of spring 88. When the free rotation of the shaft |8 occurs after release of the clockwork at interruption 21 of gear 28 as heretofore described, arm 82 rotates and traverses camsurface 85 of element 84 into engagement with stop 88, thereby shifting contact 81 out of engagement with element 8| to break the circuit. When the device is to close a circuit after a, predetermined time interval, the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 10, with element 88 urged .to full forward position permitted by stop pin 88. This results in an open circult between contact 81 and element 8|. .When the time interval has elapsed, insulator arm 82 rotates as before, striking cam surface 85 and shifting contact 81 into engagement with element 8| to make a circuit. It will be observed that the throw of arm 82 is less in the last named operation, but this can readily be accommodated by making gear interruption 21 of a length to permit both operations. The pivot of element 8| accommodates change of the arrangement between the circuit-making and breaking positions.

' For the purpose of adjusting the par-ts from circult-making to circuit-breaking positions, the element 84 is pivoted to limit the inward position of element 8| to prevent contact thereof with element 8| except at contact projection 81.

I claim:

1. A time switch comprising a' housing, a shaft iournaled in said housing and adapted for limby rotation of shaft l8 to I swing. arm 82. The upper end of slot 88 serves ited endwise movement, a switch in said housing, a switch actuator fixed on said shaft and normally engaging said switch, a spring for rotating said shaft in one direction, a gear ring fixed in said housing and having an interruption therein, and clockwork fixed on said shaft and including a pinion normally positioned in the plane of said gear ring at said interruption, said shaft being longitudinally shiftable to permit free rotation of said shaft to bring said pinion into mesh with said gear at any selected por-' tion of said gear and to simultaneously tension said spring, said clockwork controlling rotation of said shaft until said pinion reaches said gear interruption, said actuator being spaced from said switch when said pinion disengages said gear whereby the concluding movement of said actuator is produced by unrestrained action of said spring.

2. In a time switch comprising a housing, a shaft journaled in said housing and adapted for limited endwise movement against the action of a spring, a drive spring for rotating said shaft in one direction, a gear ring fixed in said housing and having an interruption, clockwork fixed on said shaft and including a pinion adapted to mesh with said gear ring and normally positioned in the plane of said gear ring at said interruption, said shaft being longitudinally shiftable against the action of said first spring to position said pinion in laterally spaced relation to said gear-ring to permit free rotation of said shaft to tension said driving spring, and means for stopping rotation of said shaft under the influence of said drive spring at a predetermined normal position when said pinion is disengaged from said gear ring at said interruption.

3. A time switch comprising a housing, a rotatable shaft journaled in said housing, a drive spring for said shaft; clockwork, means associated with said clockwork, housing and shaft for establishing a driving connection between said drive spring and clockwork within a predetermined range of .shaft rotation, said means including a planetary gear arrangement wherein one gear has an interruption at which said gear arrangement becomes inoperative, and a switch having parts carried by said housing and shaft and so positioned that the switch is operated only after predetermined free shaft movement by said spring'upon disengagement of said gears at said interruption. I

4. In a time switch, a housing, a spring pressed socket carried by said housing, shaft journaled in said housing and bearing against said socket, clockwork fixed on said shaft and including a drive pinion, an annular internally toothed gear having a portion of its inner periphery outwardly off-set from said teeth, said pinion being normally held in the plane of said gear and being shiftable to off-set relation to said gear by endwise movement of said shaft in said spring pressed socket, and a spring for rotating said shaft, said spring serving to drive said clockwork and time the rotation of said shaft when said pinion meshes with said gear.

5. Ida time switch, a housing, an annular gear carried by said housing and having gear teeth for the major portion of its inner periphery and a smooth inner peripheral portion of increased radius interrupting said gear teeth, a shaft journaled in said housing, clockwork fixed on said shaft and having a pinion normally in the plane of said gear, said pinion being shiftable axially of said gear, and means for rotating said shaft, said clockwork timing rotation of said shaft when said pinion meshes with said gear.

6. A time switch comprising a housing, spaced electrical conductors carried by said housing, a shaft rotatable in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, clockwork carried by said shaft, means carried by said housing engageable by said clockwork to restrain rotation of said clockwork un'til said shaft reaches a predetermined releasing position relative thereto, said clockwork being actuated by said shaft rotating means, a pair of switch elements in said housing connected with said conductors, and a switch actuator carried by said shaft and positioned to rotate under the influence of said first named means actuate said switch elements after said shaft has rotated past releasing position.

7. A time switch as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said switch elements includes a portion projecting outwardly of said housing for manual manipulation.

8. A time switch as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said switch elements is pivoted for movement in the plane of said actuator, and the other member is normally positioned in the path of pivotal movement of said first element.

9. A time switch as defined in claim 6, wherein one of said switch elements is positioned in the plane of rotation of said actuator and includes a cam face engageable by said actuator, and the other element extends at an angle to said first element to intercept the first element.

10. A time switch comprising a rotatable shaft, a stationary member adjacent said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, clockwork on said shaft having a part engaging said member to control rotation of said shaft until the same reaches a predetermined position, said shaft being freely rotatable after said part disengages said member at a predetermined position, a pair of switch elements, and an actuator carried by said shaft and engaging one of said switch elements after predetermined free rotation of said shaft to operate said switch and stop rotation of said shaft.

11. In a time switch, a rotatable shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, a switch element pivoted on an axis parallel to said shaft and lying in the rotational plane of said arm, a spring normally urging said element toward said arm, and a second switch element extending substantially parallel to said shaft and intercepting the path of movement of said first element, rotation of said arm pivoting said first element relative to said second element and against the action of said spring.

12. The construction defined in claim 11, wherein said second switch element is pivoted for movement out of the path of movement of said first element to accommodate positioning of said second element in either open or closed circuit relation to said first element.

13. The construction defined in claim 11, wherein the switch elements are manually -adjustable between open and closed circuit positions.

14. In a time switch, a housing, a shaft rotatable in said housing in timed relation, a plurality of spring contacts mounted in said housing with two of said contacts normally in interengagement, a conductor arm on said shaft adapted to establish electrical connection between two of the normally spaced contacts, an insulating arm on said shaft adapted to separate the normally interengaging contacts, a selector shiftable in said housing for selective engagement with the spaced contact and one of the normally interengaging contacts, the other of the normally interengaging contacts and said selector, each having electrical connection with a source of electrical energy.

-15. A time switch comprising a. housing, a rotat-able shaft joumaled in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, timing means carried by 10 said shaft, planetary gearing associated with said timing means, shaft and housing wherein one gear has an interruption at which said gearing disengages, said timing means being driven by said shaft rotating means and driving said gearing to restrain rotation oil-said shaft until said gearing disengages at said interruption, and impact means having parts carried by said shaft and housing and actuated by said shaft upon disengagement of said gearing.

LEONARD A. PF LEGER.

CERTIEICATL OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,250,168. July 22, 19h.

LEONARD A. PFLEGER,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above mmibered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, line 2, for "assignor of one-third to ANDREW KEKKO" read assignor of one-half to ANDREW KEKKO-, as shown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the .Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of September, A. D. 1914.1.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissi oner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,250,168. July 22, 19L 1.

LEONARD A. PFIEGER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, line 2, for "assignor of one-third to ANDREWiGiIKKO" read -a'ssignor of. one-half to ANDREW Kano-e, as shown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of September, A. D. 19in.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

